Physics

Items

• acceleration

  It is a measure of how quickly something’s speed is changing.
• absolute

  Something that is complete, total, or independent of other factors.
• absorption

  The process where energy (light, sound or electromagnetic radiation) is taken in and transferred to a material
• abstract

  Concepts or models that are not directly observable or physically tangible, but are used to understand and predict the behaviour of the physical world.
• abstract

  Short summary of research paper or project.
• accuracy

  The quality or state of being correct or precise.
• acid

  Substance that donates the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water, typically resulting in a sour taste and a pH below 7.
• acoustic

  Refers to sound or the science of sound, how it is produced, travels, and is heard.
• acute angle

  An acute angle is an angle that is less than 90 degrees. It looks sharp and narrow.
• adhesion

  The force that makes different materials stick or cling to each other. For example, water sticking to glass or tape sticking to paper is because of adhesion
• adiabatic

  The process where no heat is exchanged between a system and its surroundings. In other words, the system doesn’t gain or lose heat during the change. For example, when air is quickly compressed in a pump, it heats up because no heat escapes.
• adsorption

  When particles (like gas or liquid molecules) stick to the surface of a solid or liquid. They don’t go inside, they just stay on the outside surface.
• algebraically

  Solving or working with equations using symbols and formulas instead of just numbers.
• alpha particle

  A particle made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons, the same as the nucleus of a helium atom. It is released during the radioactive decay of some heavy elements like uranium or radium.
• alternate

  Something that switches back and forth or repeats regularly.
• altitude

  Height or distance of an object above a reference point, usually above the ground or sea level.
• ammeter

  Tool used to measure electric current in a circuit. It tells you how much electric charge is flowing, usually measured in amperes (A).
• amorphous

  Material that does not have a regular, repeating arrangement of atoms. Unlike crystals, where atoms are arranged periodically, amorphous materials have atoms arranged randomly.
• amplitude

  The maximum height of a wave from its middle (rest) position. It tells us how strong or intense the wave is.
• analysis

  Studying or examining something to understand it better. In physics, this could mean looking at data from an experiment, breaking down a problem or system into parts, and using math or logic to find solutions.
• angular

  Something that has to do with angles or rotation.
• angular velocity

  How fast something is spinning
• angular acceleration

  How quickly is the spinning speed changing
• angular momentum

  A measure of how much motion something has while rotating
• anion

  Negatively charged ion. It forms when an atom gains one or more electrons.